Chapter 98: What on earth have you learned?!

Luo Mu remembered that the orange fruits he’d bought at the market never had this kind of effect; clearly, under Kapu’s cultivation, even the orange fruits’ potency had been enhanced somewhat.

Luo Mu swallowed the orange fruit in a few bites, spat out the seed husk, and was just about to put it into the trash bag he carried when Kapu suddenly appeared before him, extending a hoof, its eyes fixed intently on Luo Mu.

Strangely, Luo Mu could roughly guess what Kapu meant—he handed over the husk. After receiving it, Kapu stored it in the crevice between its hooves, as if preparing to preserve it.

Then, Kapu repeated the same process with the other Pokémon and Kukui, collecting their husks; only after finishing did it turn to Kingdra and the White Fluffies, gesturing for them to follow.

Kingdra and the White Fluffies exchanged glances, then followed Kapu to the orange fruit tree it had planted. Kapu pointed at the tree and spoke: “Moo-moo-moo!”

Seeing the White Fluffies still hesitant, Kingdra sighed, calmly climbed up the tree trunk, found a comfortable spot, and began absorbing the plant energy from the orange fruit tree, as Kapu had instructed.

Kapu’s meaning was for them to first absorb and adapt to the plant energy generated by the grassy terrain, then attempt using the Grass Terrain move.

With Kingdra leading, the White Fluffies also gathered courage, touching the orange fruit tree and mimicking its actions to absorb the plant energy.

Luo Mu, who had been watching them closely, stroked his chin and murmured: “Absorbing plant energy helps Grass-type Pokémon grow. This trip might raise the White Fluffies’ levels significantly.”

Level increases mean a higher chance of learning new moves—Luo Mu finally understood Kapu’s teaching approach.

Seeing Kapu’s training already in full swing, Luo Mu had no intention of interrupting them; he turned to Kukui and said: “I don’t think I need anything else here—why don’t you go check on your home first?”

Kukui paused, thinking it made sense; he hadn’t expected Kapu’s matter to be resolved so quickly—he could return home earlier than planned.

Once decided, Kukui didn’t hesitate—he summoned Brave Eagle, mounted it, warned Luo Mu to contact him if anything came up, then flew straight toward Melemele Island.

After bidding Kukui farewell, Luo Mu glanced at Dragonite and Mimikyu playing tug-of-war with Kardor, then at the diligent Mudbray digging holes; after confirming they were all fine, he walked toward the solitary Floatzel hovering in midair.

Hmm, time to charm some more Pokémon again.

Perhaps because the White Fluffies had become busy with Kapu, Floatzel—as a native Alolan Pokémon—felt a natural reverence for Kapu, the Island Deity.

So even though Floatzel wanted to play with the White Fluffies, it stayed put out of respect for Kapu’s authority, giving Luo Mu a chance to approach it.

Haihai , not that he was fickle and always trying to lure different Pokémon home—but Floatzel was truly suited to become a member of Luo Mu’s envisioned farm.

“Flower?”

Even as a wild Pokémon, Floatzel remained cautious; the moment Luo Mu drew near, it sensed his presence.

But once it recognized Luo Mu, its urge to flee vanished instantly—this left Luo Mu, who had expected it to panic and run, puzzled.

Why was this different from what he thought?

Floatzel’s green eyes scanned Luo Mu, then made an action he never anticipated—

From the tips of its wing-like feathers, another vine extended, waved in front of Luo Mu, then slipped directly into his pocket where he kept the Terastal Zhu .

Curious about what Floatzel intended, Luo Mu didn’t stop it.

After using the vine to pull out the Terastal Zhu , Floatzel neither fled nor damaged it; instead, it gazed at Luo Mu expectantly, swinging the Terastal Zhu up and down as if mimicking his motion of throwing it.

Floatzel’s unusual behavior left Luo Mu momentarily silent; then he ventured: “You want to Terastallize like Mimikyu?”

“Floatzel~”

As if Luo Mu had perfectly guessed its desire, Floatzel happily spun in place a few times, returned the Terastal Zhu to him, then stared at Luo Mu with bright, gleaming green eyes.

“Uh…” Looking at the Terastal Zhu now drained of energy, Luo Mu cursed GF a thousand times in his mind for designing Terastal Zhu to require recharging.

Luo Mu apologized to Floatzel and explained why the Terastal Zhu couldn’t be used right now.

“Float…”

Floatzel lowered its head in disappointment.

Seeing this, Luo Mu suddenly had an idea and blurted out: “But if you become our partner, you’ll be able to Terastallize once we return to Paldea!”

“And once in Paldea, you can play with the White Fluffies too.”

Luo Mu’s words were full of temptation—but Floatzel fell for it completely, agreeing without hesitation.

It could play with the White Fluffies again, and turn into that beautiful crystalline form—Floatzel immediately dove into the red-and-white Poké Ball Luo Mu tentatively offered; after three shakes, capture complete.

“Huh?”

Holding the Poké Ball containing Floatzel, Luo Mu realized for the first time he might have a talent for pyramid selling.

Kapu’s training lasted four full days, during which Kukui returned several times.

Learning everything was going well, Luo Mu greeted Kukui and Kapu, then teamed up with a professional mountaineer to explore Lanakila Mountain, a snow-covered, treacherous peak.

Luo Mu’s goal was the Alolan Vulpix/Ninetales that might dwell there—but their luck was poor: on the first night of climbing, they encountered a rare blizzard; after the storm lessened, they had no choice but to descend.

The search for Alolan Vulpix/Ninetales was abandoned.

Back at the Harvest Ruins, Luo Mu stayed put, observing Kingdra and the others’ training while practicing with Kardor.

Until the final day of training, when Kingdra demonstrated its newly learned move before Luo Mu—he finally lost his composure.

“What on earth have you learned?!”

(End of Chapter)